Searching for Work Group Progress Report

The Searching for Work group is at an interesting stage of development. It has evolved into three distinct subgroups that can be described as follows—

The first group consists of individuals who have made decisions to change careers, and have launched new ventures to generate income producing work. They have a sense of direction and are pursuing their objectives. Examples include employment in new fields, starting consulting practices, and purchasing or starting businesses.

The second group is made up of individuals who are searching for employment in the same or closely related field and are making progress exploring opportunities through networking and search firms. They are having little success pursuing online job postings.

The third and most difficult group is individuals who face insurmountable obstacles, resist change, or put little effort into their search. They are having difficulty setting a course of action to deal with their issues and advance their searches.

The first two subgroups are contributing in a major way to the success of the group meetings. They report on their progress, which generates interest and discussion. They have the confidence to raise questions and to speak out on issues. The third subgroup unfortunately, has little progress to report, so it is difficult for the group to help them in a meaningful way. They are hopefully absorbing information, but their contribution to helping the group grow is limited.

Small groups are often complex entities, and the Searching for Work group is a good example. It is made up of people in various stages of their search, and putting varying amounts of effort into their pursuit of employment. There are people with considerable financial concerns who appear desperate and others who seem to be getting by with severance packages and or spouses working. Few believe that they are empowered to create their own future, and are resistant to techniques and processes that would enable them to discover new learning about themselves. For most, allowing themselves the opportunity to dream and create is a luxury they believe they cannot afford. It is outside their comfort zone, so they resort to search strategies that require little creativity and effort — and in this difficult economic time generally lead to unproductive results.

Some people show up for one or two meetings then do not return. Others have been regular attendees for many months. As people get to know one another, they become more willing to participate actively in discussions. We begin each meeting with a devotion period. It has become an increasingly meaningful part of the program and frequently sets the stage for discussions that follow. In recent months, discussions have become more thought provoking and interesting. I leave the meetings encouraged that we are making progress.